The more, the merrier

JOURNALTRIBUNE.COM

WATERBORO — Just about 8 a.m. on Thursday, a group of senior citizens climbed up the steps into a chartered bus that would whisk them away to see the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay.

The bus was to make another stop, just up the road a bit in Buxton, to take on more passengers.

And that simple, loose-knit collaboration, forged earlier this year between municipal parks and recreation departments in some small towns west of the Maine Turnpike, makes trips like the botanical gardens adventure more affordable for everyone, proponents say.

It is all in the math, Waterboro Parks and Recreation Interim Director Todd Smith said. Quite simply, the more folks who are on the bus, the less it costs for everyone to take part.

In all, 47 folks signed up for the Boothbay trip, they hailed from Waterboro, Hollis, Buxton, and a couple of people drove down from Baldwin, said Lisa Tutor, Waterboro parks and rec’s administrative assistant. The cost was around $40 per person, which included transportation, admission and a guided tour of the gardens.

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The Maine Recreation & Park Association is a 501c3 non profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for all in Maine.

MRPA members work year-round to increase recreational opportunities and promote a healthy lifestyle for Maine citizens of all ages. We do this by supporting the professionals who deliver Maine's public park and recreation programs, and by serving as a statewide voice for access to public recreation and open space.